Former captain Leonardo Bonucci starts legal battle against Juventus over club exit

Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci will take legal action against former club Juventus after a reported fallout with manager Massimiliano Allegri led to his recent exit from the club.

Bonucci, 36, who spent 12 years in Turin over two spells, was left out of Allegri’s squad for the United States pre-season tour and home friendlies prior to their Serie A opener on Aug. 20.

He agreed to terminate his contract with Juve to facilitate the move to the Bundesliga side Union Berlin, with whom he signed for one year on the deadline day.

“I have decided, after great suffering, to take the path of a lawsuit towards Juventus,” Bonucci told Sport Mediaset in an interview published on Thursday.

“My rights stipulated that I should have trained with the team regardless of the technical choice and been put in a position to physically be able to play during the following season.

“This was not granted to me, I no longer trained with the team. I felt drained of everything, humiliated, I couldn’t do what I love most.”

Bonucci said he did not feel remorse towards his former club nor was seeking financial reward, and that if he won the legal battle he would donate all the proceeds to charity.

“I have nothing against Juventus. Juventus are the fans, the team, my former team mates,” Bonucci said.

“I am pursuing this cause because the people who were supposed to let me end my career with Juventus in a respectful and worthy way have not done so.”

Being sidelined from training for an extended time resulted in no Italy call-up for Bonucci by new manager Luciano Spalletti, who had informed the defender of his decision privately prior to making his list official.

“I want to continue to play and trouble Spalletti for the national team,” Bonucci said.

“His